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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: drill · net · pass · coach · safe · suit · temple · bat

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. net — in sport
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. drill — army training
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. drill — a practice
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. suit — in cards
  14. bat — for baseball
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. net — after costs
  17. bat — in an idiom
  18. suit — clothes
  19. drill — the tool
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. pass — a permit
  22. bat — the animal
  23. net — for catching
  24. suit — to fit

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com